General Information

What exactly is ballroom dance?

Ballroom dance refers to a variety of partner dances across
several different styles and speeds. Partnerships consist of a leader and a follower,
so that skilled couples can dance together
without planning routines in advance. Each dance has its own unique mood, appearance,
and dance moves, although many moves are similar in different dances.
You can find a list in the About section.

How do competitions work?

A group of up to twenty-four couples take the floor simultaneously,
dancing the same style of dance at the same time. The top couples are selected to move onto
the next round based on rhythm, technique, presence, and style. Competitions
have many events at various skill levels and in different dances. Even by their first
competition, most newcomers are dancing eight or more different styles.

What kind of music is ballroom danced to?

Almost anything you want to, so long as it's the right speed and
time signature. Once you start dancing, you'll start to notice that you can dance
ballroom to many of your favorite songs, but you'll also find that your favorite songs
become those that are great to dance to. If you head over to our
YouTube Channel, you'll find a good representation of the sort of music we tend to
dance to.

Team

What exactly is the ballroom team?

The team is a group of committed dancers that work together to
improve their skills. We have classes at various levels of skill, some taught by
experienced dancers from the team, and others taught by professionals from outside
Yale. We grow, practice, learn, teach, compete, perform, improve our dancing, and
generally have a good time together. There is a large social aspect to the team as well.

What sort of dances will I be learning at lessons?

Usually, we have one night a week devoted to Standard and one night a week devoted to Latin.
On Sundays at club lessons, we learn various American style dances.
For a list of dances in each style, head to the About section.

When exactly do you normally meet?

Newcomer classes take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Club lessons are from 12:30 to 2:00 on Sundays.
Coach lessons for Newcomers generally start in the spring, and are usually held on Wednesdays. We also have practice spaces
available on various days for practicing by yourself or with a partner.

Club

What's the difference between the club and the team?

While the Team is meant for those who want to pursue competitive ballroom,
Club is meant for those who want to learn ballroom without
the pressure or time commitment of competition or multiple lessons a week. Club is socially oriented and progresses
at a pace that is ideal for those who are attending lessons only once a week.

Joining

How do I join?

In the fall, we hold a giant dance lesson, party, and performance
we call the Icebreaker, which is the perfect opportunity for you to get your first
taste of ballroom. After that, our first few weeks of newcomer lessons each semester
are open to anyone interested in joining the team or club. You simply need to show
up and see if you're interested in staying with the team.
Details about these events will be posted on our website as the event approaches. If you have any
questions about joining the team, feel free to contact our Newbie Captains, Tuna Uysal
and Melissa Kropf. You can also stop by our table at the Club Sports Fair in the fall.
If you would like to be updated about our events, contact our webmaster Richard Baker
and request to be included in our mailing list.

Do I have to come with a dance partner?

Not at all! In fact, all of our beginner classes rotate through
partners so you can have the experience of dancing with different partners. For
the first couple of competitions, partners are usually matched by the Newbie Captains.

Is it okay if I've never danced before?

Absolutely! Most dancers on the team started their dancing journeys here at Yale. If you have some prior
dancing experience of any sort, you will certainly be at an advantage, but you will still find that our
newcomer classes move at an appropriate pace.

What if I've danced ballroom in the past?

It depends entirely on the amount and type of ballroom experience
you have. If you have never worked on technique, you will probably find yourself most
at home in our newcomer classes, although some of the material may be review for you.
Even though jumping ahead a year may seem like an exciting prospect, many freshmen find
themselves unprepared for advanced classes. If you have practiced seriously in the past, you will want to move
into Bronze or Silver classes immediately.